Nutritional value and biochemical properties of oil are influenced by fatty acid composition of oil and fatty acid position on the triacylglycerol (TAG). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of virgin coconut oil (VCO) and palm kernel oil (PKO) based on the ratio of saturated fatty acid (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and to assess lauric acid distribution in sn-2 position on VCO and PKO.
VCO that was used in this study was produced by the Noery ViCO Lhokseumawe and PKO by PT. Multimas Nabati Asahan. The nutritional value of fat was determine by the deviation percentage from 33,33% of each group SFA, MUFA, PUFA. Composition of total fatty acid was analyzed by Gas Chromatography. Distribution of lauric acid in TAG was determined by hydrolyzing the VCO and PKO with specific lipase enzyme active at position sn-1,3 generating freed fatty acid and 2-monoacylglycerol. Then the free fatty acid was analyzed by Gas Chromatography and the distribution of lauric acid at the sn-2 position was the difference between total lauric acids in TAG and free lauric acid composition of sn-1,3 position.
The result showed that the nutritional value of VCO and PKO were 118.55% and 95.29% deviated from 33.33%. The distribution of lauric acid in sn-2 position on VCO and PKO showed 48.33% and 48.59%.